Impact of Nanoparticles on the Removal of Organic Pollutants by Activated Carbon Adsorption

摘要

The presence of nanoparticles in drinking water sources could impact organicpollutant removal by activated carbon due to agglomerated nanoparticles, whichcould act as adsorption sites for pollutants. Trichloroethylene (TCE) adsorption ontoactivated carbon in the presence of nanoparticles was evaluated in this study. Ironoxide (Fe_2O_3), titanium dioxide (TiO_2), and silicon dioxide (SiO_2) nanoparticles attwo concentration levels (0.5 and 1.0 mg/L for Fe_2O_3 and TiO_2, and 5.0 and 10 mg/Lfor SiO_2) were evaluated. Particle size distribution (PSD) of the above nanoparticlesolutions was analyzed in order to determine the extent of aggregation. Adsorptionisotherm experiments were conducted at three initial TCE concentrations, twonanoparticle concentrations, and with varying amounts of powdered activated carbon(PAC). Isotherm experiments were also conducted in the presence of natural organicmatter (NOM) in order to more closely model natural water conditions. The primaryobjective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of activated carbon adsorption ofTCE in the presence of the aforementioned commercially available nanomaterials andNOM.